riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Navajo County Disaster Risk

Navajo County, Arizona

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

88th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#11

of 15 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

90th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 99% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 81% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Navajo County, Arizona

Navajo's risk moderately above average

Navajo County scores 88.07 on composite risk, landing in the relatively moderate category but still exceeding national averages. The rating reflects substantial wildfire exposure combined with meaningful flood and earthquake hazards.

Mid-range risk among Arizona counties

Navajo ranks fifth among Arizona's 15 counties with a score of 88.07, moderately above the state average of 84.45. The county sits squarely in Arizona's middle tier, facing meaningful but not extreme overall disaster exposure.

Similar risk to Santa Cruz County

Navajo's 88.07 score closely parallels Santa Cruz County (88.33) and falls below higher-risk neighbors Mohave (94.75) and Yavapai (93.73). The county experiences notably less extreme risk than Arizona's top three counties.

Wildfire and flood top the list

Wildfire risk reaches 98.79, making it Navajo's dominant hazard and among the state's highest. Flood risk at 89.50 and earthquake risk at 81.23 round out the county's significant exposure, while tornadoes (8.05) pose minimal threat.

Prioritize wildfire and flood coverage

Wildfire and flood damage are commonly excluded from standard policies; Navajo residents should obtain separate wildfire and flood insurance. Review your existing homeowners coverage to confirm these critical protections are in place.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Navajo County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    99th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    90th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    81th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Risk Advisory: Navajo County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard risk in Navajo County is higher than the majority of U.S. counties, with a national composite rank of 88th. Navajo County's elevated composite score reflects cumulative multi-hazard exposure; households should prepare for the county's two or three primary hazard types.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Navajo County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 99th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 90th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (81th percentile), tornado (8th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile).

Preparedness Context

At the 99th percentile nationally for wildfire, Navajo County residents should verify whether their insurance policy includes replacement cost coverage for structures and whether the insurer still writes new policies in this fire-risk zone. Alongside wildfire, flood at the 90th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Local USFS or Cal Fire (where applicable) fire risk maps and seasonal Red Flag Warning alerts from the National Weather Service are two free resources Navajo County residents can use to stay ahead of rapidly changing wildfire conditions.

Regional Context

Navajo County's composite risk score is within 3.6 points of the Arizona county average — a close alignment that reflects a broadly representative hazard environment for this part of the state.

Is your household prepared for Navajo County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Navajo County, AZ?
Navajo County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 88th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Navajo County?
Navajo County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (99th percentile), flooding (90th percentile), earthquake (81th percentile), tornado (8th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 99th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Navajo County risk compare to the Arizona average?
Navajo County's composite risk percentile is 88th, compared to the Arizona state average of 85th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Navajo County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arizona.
Is Navajo County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Navajo County's wildfire risk is at the 99th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Navajo County is at the 90th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Navajo County higher risk than average?
Navajo County's composite risk score of 88th percentile is above the Arizona state average of 85th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (99th percentile), along with flooding and earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.